Track-signal-flag holder



June 16, 1925.

H. W. F'AHN ESTOCK TRACK SIGNAL FLAG' HOLDER Filed Sept- 12, 1924 Patented June 16, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE;

HARRY w. FAHNESTUCK, or onicaeo, iLmncis.

TRACK-SIGNAL-FLAG I-IOLbER.

Application filed September 12, 1924. Serial No. re ease.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I,-I-IARRY Fenian and has for its primary object the provision of a signaling device which is secured to a rail head extends upwardly and angularly therefrom and is adapted particularly for use by car inspectors, track repair men and the like in the place of the usual signal which is attached to a rod or stick end driven into the ground between the rails.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a signal which is easily applied to the rail head and which promote upwardly at an angle therefrom so that the signal is positioned in the center of the track making it easily visible to train and switching crews, and-which is also light and can be easily attached to the rail head and detached therefrom when it is desired to remove the signal.

I am aware that signaling devices of this character have been used before but these devices are impractical in service because they cannot be readily attached to or de tached from a rail head and ofttimes in so doing the signal is so distorted and bent out of shape that it becomes worthless. The usual practice has been to fasten signals of this character to a spike or rod having a sharp point which are driven into the ground the spike or rod having a signal flag attached thereto. Very often the signal is blown down by the wind and therefore is not visible to train or switching screws who have caused cars to be moved on tracks where repairing is being done or against cars that are being repaired, resulting in accidents to the car or track repair men. Another disadvantage of this type of signal. is the fact that it is difficult to drive one of these spikes in the ground when the ground is frozen or when the track is-ballasted with. crushed stone or gravel so that it is impossible to get the rod into the ground a suflicient distance to properly hold the signal.

This and other objects of my invention will be more fully and better understood by reference to the accompanying sheet of drawing and in which- Figure 1 is a front view of my improved signal, showing it in position upon a rail head.

Figure 2 is a side view of the signal shown in Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a detail view of the rail clamp to which the signal is attached, and

Figure 4 is a plan view of the clamp shown in Figure 3.

Referring now specifically to the drawing,

a signal disc 10 is shown which is attached to a standard 11, the said disc 10 having a hole 12 therein upon which a lantern or other signal device can be secured if desired. The member 11 is secured to a clamp 13 at its lower end by means of rivets 14, the said clamp 13 being adapted to fit over the head 16 of a rail 17. The clamp 13 is preferably made of a piece of spring steel having an inturned portion 18 which is adapted to engage the underside of the rail head 16, and has a portion abutting against the outer side of the rail head 16 and a flat or top portion extending across the top of the rail head and which has downwardlyextending angularly disposed side portion 19 which is adapted to engage against the in ner side of the rail head 16 with an up turned angularly disposed depending por-- tion 20 to which the member 11 is attached. The portion 19 is positioned at an angle slightly to the vertical so that there is a wedging action of the clamp upon. the rail head when the device is secured in position upon the rail.

In operation of the device when it is desired to attach the signal to a rail head, the device is hooked over the rail head witha portion 18 drawn under the rail head and in engagement therewith and then a standard 11 pushed down so that the angularly disposed portion 19 of the clamp 13 engages upon the side of the rail head 16 thus securely clamping the signal in position on The device is particularly adaptable for tion a track clamp having an inturned portion adapted to engage a rail head on the underside thereof and having a Vertical portion at the outside thereof adapted to engage the outer side of the rail head and an angularly disposed inner portion adapted to engage the inner side of a rail head, with portions of the clamp connecting said engagement and clamping portions, a signal holder secured at an angle of 45 to said clamp and a signal carried by the said holder.

Signed at Chicago, Illinois, this 4th day of September, 1924.

HARRY W. FAHNESTOGK. 

